'You will like at once, I am sure, to go to Wood

leigh.'

'Certainly,' said Lady Shropshire, coldly.

'Most certainly,' echoed the Baroness, without a moment's delay.'

'May I not offer you some breakfast—a cup coffee?'

'Not a drop,' said Lady Shropshire.

'Not for the world,' repeated the Baroness.

of

'Lady Lloyd,' said Lady Shropshire, rising from the sofa, with an air which implied that all future intercourse between the two houses would from henceforth be closed, and adjusting her arms and dress for a profound court curtsey, 'Lady Lloyd, allow me to return to you our united acknowledgments for our most charming visit.'

And the two ladies, as I before said, sunk down slowly and gracefully, till I thought they would have disappeared into the cellars.

'I am so sorry,' meekly replied Lady Lloyd, 'I am so very sorry. I felt sure you would so enjoy it.' A contemptuous smile passed over Lady Shropshire's face.

'May I beg,' she said, ‘as a most especial favour, that on no future occasion will Lady Lloyd ever think of giving me enjoyment? I prefer taking care of myself. When the carriage is ready, Sir Lloyd, I trust we may be told.'

The carriage almost immediately afterwards drove to the door. Sir Lloyd handed the ladies into it. They departed, with a most cold and formal farewell And we were left standing by the fire in the library, preparing to go each to our different rooms. But before we separated, I was obliged to call Lady Lloyd's attention to one point.

on both sides.

'Let me implore you,' I said, 'without one moment's delay, to recover possession of the remaining pills. They are at present in the hands of Annette; and she is aware of their power. She is a kindhearted girl, and she may-the very thought appals me-have formed benevolent plans for our enjoyment. She may think it conducive to the happiness of the world or of yourself, to send us all off again to Canada the first thing to-morrow morning. I may be at the bottom of the Red Sea, and the Doctor in his dressing-gown and slippers on the shores of Nova Zembla, before the clock strikes seven. We cannot be safe,' I added, looking round at the rest of the party, 'till the pills are once more in Lady Lloyd's hands. Lady Lloyd,' I added, somewhat bitterly, 'who so well knows how to use them.'

Lady Lloyd looked at me resentfully, but as Sir Lloyd seconded my entreaty, she hurried off to her And we all retired, to prepare ourselves, as well as we could, by a little repose and dressing, for the very awkward scenes which were evidently in

room.

preparation for us during the course of the day—such as the investigation by the police, and the visits of the neighbourhood, whose sympathy and curiosity would doubtless bring them in shoals to enquire into the history of our departure and our return.

166

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF LADY LLOYD'S FOURTH WISH.

ANYONE who has sat up for two nights running in a hard Windsor chair, and wrapped up in a by no means inodorous bear-skin, and who has then been carried through the air some thousands of miles, and deposited in the cold grey of the morning in his own comfortable bed-room, will understand easily the relief with which I threw myself into my easy chair, debating whether I should try to get some sleep in bed before the breakfast-bell rang, or should enjoy at once the delight of which I had been deprived the day before, of a sponge bath and of shaving. But I found that sleep was hopeless: the dread of Annette hung over me like a cloud, which at any moment might burst upon our devoted heads in some frightful form of an attempt to make us happy. I reflected, and tried to decide whether I was in her good graces or not. Was it possible that she might regard me as a disagreeable visitor, whose removal to Botany Bay or Siberia would conduce to the welfare of mankind? No! I comforted myself with the hope that I was

rather a favourite than not.

She always smiled when I met her tripping past me, with her light little foot and neat dress, towards the harem staircase, and never failed to greet me with a curtsey, and we always exchanged a good morning. And I remembered with satisfaction that I had brought her a ribband from Coventry, the last time I was at Brooklyn; so that I had less fear of being sent there myself. But then from the very opposite side of the horizon there arose up a still more black and threatening cloud. Was it possible (vanity-perhaps a foolish vanity--gave weight to the frightful vision), was it possible I could be too great a favourite? Might not Annette feel that to have a young and amiable person devoting herself to take care of me in my mature age, would be a wonderful addition to my happiness? Might she not resolve to undertake herself that duty-and-marry me? I was not more than sixty; my hair not quite so grey as it is now; my figure-my face-but I will not dwell upon them. Yet as I looked anxiously in the glass, I asked myself, if such a thought might not have crossed her mind; and if it was possible or lawful for the Fairies to marry me against my will. Or was there in that charming Act of Parliament which opens such delightful vistas of unlimited matrimony to future generations of Englishmen, any clause enabling an English judge to release me. And now it was that I realised fully for the first time the meaning of a formid